It's A Christmas TAKE OVER!

This year I am turning my blog into Christmas Central! SO right now I am slowly turning my blog "Mission Bound"  into "Janells Christmas Countdown" If you are viewing my blog for the 1st time welcome! I will start posting Christmas stuff on November 29th! Hope to see you then!

-Janell

When Disability Becomes Your God

One of my favorite things to see is the look on a person face right after Jesus has healed them. It’s so beautiful and I fall in love with Jesus all over again.  Jesus is a great healer and nothing is too hard for Him. From a simple headache to an incurable disease; it’s all underneath His feet! So when people ask for prayer I’m ready to lay hands on them and watch my Jesus heal again.

But there are a lot of people that won’t ask for healing…they will ask for disability. Now I know I’m wadding deep into water here… but before you get all offensive hear me out.

Here is sample a conversation that I have had with a lot of people:

“Hi Ann! Is there anything I can pray about for you today?”
“Hi Janell! Oh yes! I need prayer! I really need my disability to come through. Please pray that God will give me disability.”
“Oh, ok. Lord I pray that your will would be done in Ann’s life.”

These types of conversations really bug me. Because I know that my God heals and he has been in that business for a very long time. He has never seen anything that worries Him or that can stump Him. So when people ask me to pray that they get put on disability (worse when they say they want God to put them on disability) my heart hurts for them. I would rather pray that they are totally whole in their bodies and never have to think about being disabled.

Over the past few years I have seen a lot of people make disability their God. They rely on disability to take care of them, to pay the bills and so on. Did you know that every month 14 million Americans get a disability check in the mail from the government. (Just to put it out there I think God can take care of you way better than our government can…just saying).  That is a crazy number! I get it, some people are hurt and really can’t work a job and have been deemed medically disable. But it’s when they would rather rely on their disability to care for them rather than God.

 I know these people. I’ve even had one person tell me that they didn’t want God to heal them. They would rather get the check. Wow…These are Bible believing Christians. That makes me so so sad. They really let their disability rule their life. They can’t live the life they were created for because they are severing their disability check (or the lack thereof and live off other people). They actually live in fear because if that check doesn’t come they are doomed. Their whole life is dependent on a check from the government….If we put our dependence in anything but God we will eventually be doomed and disappointed.

So when I someone asks for me to pray for disability, I pray God’s will.  I’m actually praying that Gods will would be done in their lives, that they would be whole in every part of their lives with nothing lacking (if you don’t know what that it is you need to look it up, especially all the people who use “if it’s Gods will” to pray for everything. Like “Lord if it’s your will heal this person”. Um of course it is! Sorry, yeah go look in your bible what the will of god is).

Here in America…the home of the free and the proud….we are all sick, in pain and depressed…the list is too embarrassing and depressing to go on.  I see nothing free or something to be proud of there.

I ask that you take an honest look at your life (remember God sees it all anyway) and see if you have made disability your provider, your caretaker, your god.

I so want people to be free. Really free! That is why I’m breaking the silence. I was afraid of telling people this. But I love you, and so if that means I lose friends over this, ok. My love for you won’t stop if you get upset with me or think that I have no place to talk because I’m not in your shoes. Love is and has always been more powerful than fear.

Maybe you aren’t on disability, but there is something controlling your live and has made itself king over you. You can be free. Invite King Jesus to sit on the place of Lordship. He will break down the walls and let freedom, displace fear and let the light of truth in.

So in closing, do you need healing in your body? Are there things in your life that keep you from really living life? I would so love to pray for you and see you set free. Comment below and I’ll pray with you (God loves working through the Internet!).

With love, as always,

Whatsoever Think.

Reference: www.apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/

I Have Nothing To Give...Except A Massage

Teaching how to massage the neck  

Right now I am in the Dominican Republic teaching the nationals how to massage. Being able to help provide jobs for the people of the Dominican Republic has been an honor so far (day one of five). Some of these woman don't have any skills, so the only other option isn't favorable and for some even unrespectable. To provide them with a way out of bad situations is humbling.

Learning how to effleuarge

When I decided to go to massage school 3 years ago I had no idea that my education could be used like this. At best I only saw it as a way to make money so that I could go on the mission field. Ha! Oh how we limit God.

Yesterday I taught that we all have something to give. That we all have something. In the Bible a widow had nothing… but a small cup of oil (2 Kings 4:1-7).  She didn’t see what she had as significant. But the prophet told her to use what she had. And when she used what she had in her hand God touched it and a miracle happened (do yourself a favor and go read the story).

They are doing so well learning the techniques.

I kind of saw my massage education like this. I didn’t think that this could be something God could use. It's silly I know…to think that God can't use something! But we do it all the time. For some reason we have been taught that God only operates when we are going something "spiritual". But that is not the case.

I told the people here that if all they can do is just make the best banana soup then that is something God can use. It's doesn’t matter how small. God can make it great.

We all have something to give. It might seem small. It might even seem non-spiritual. Just give God what you have and he will cause increase. He will make things happen that you would have never dreamed! I used to say that I just did massage to get overseas. That I didn’t really love it like I love to minister. Now I see that they are one. Massage doesn’t have to be a separate thing. It's all apart of what I can give God. And it's a beautiful thing.

I'm so excited to use my gift...clearly! 

I'm so excited to see what else God is going to do with what I have in my hand. As I read this back to myself tears start to flow. The goodness of god is so great. Even when I believed that what I did for a living wasn't that special (a lie) God never doubted (truth). He Is a master at taking the things we thing aren't great and making them grand!

What do you have in your hand to give? It's really a easy question. What are you good at? What do you like to do? Whatever It is give it to God. The outcome might be quite hilarious!

Whatsoever Think.

I had 34 students at the night class! this is only half the room!

Is God Good or Not?

Last night a car slipped off the jack and hit my dad on the head (very bad stuff). I was at work when it happened. Once I read the text I drove to the ER, my mind racing in different directions…I didn't know how bad it was. But as I drove, up out of my spirit came the words "God is good".  So I started saying out it loud.  And the peace of God just washed over me. Now a day later, my dad is doing great (16 stitches) and is without  a headache. That my friends is amazing!

Here is the moral of the story folks:

When things go bad….the seconds right after that are most important! Why? Because your beliefs become clear and you either choose to  believe that God is Good or that he isn't. And that will shape how you handle your trail. 

In our lives trials are going to come. There's no doubt about it, but we can walk in victory all the way through if we choose to. If I had let fear and worry take over my heart my emotional state would have been WAY different.

God is good all the time. "But how could he let this happen?" You know, I have come to the conclusion (and so should you) that God is way bigger, way smarter and so much more capable than me. That Is where trust can comes into play.

When we choose to believe He is good and that He loves us then we can remain under that umbrella of love and peace (that totally bypasses our understanding). When we choose worry and fear we step out from under it….and we get wet with the worries of life.

Stay underneath His umbrella of peace. Even when it looks bad God is still good.

Whatsoever Think

Are you going through something right now and having a hard time seeing that God is good even what's happening around you isn't? It's not too late to change. Just start saying that He is good in the face of what your situation is. The love of God never fails…Never!

If you would like prayer please comment below. I would love to pray for you.

Love vs. Hate: A Powerful Outcome

Can you imagine being taken from your family and country then becoming a servant to the commander of the army that took you? This happened in 2 Kings 5. A young girl was taken and was given to be a maid.  It ends up being a great story of healing but I want to focus on the impact of this nameless girl.

For most people if they were in this situation the last thing on their mind would to love the people who took you from everything you knew. But this girl sees that her master has leprosy and instead of hating him or talking behind his back, she tells him that there is hope for his leprosy. She tells him that there is a prophet in Samaria that could heal him.

This is crazy! She is literally helping and having compassion on the enemy! What a crazy radical love she displayed. Because she did love, her master was totally healed of leprosy, experienced the power of God so much that he would never serve another God again. What an impact her love and compassion had! He was the commander of an army and friends with the king! I can image her master told everyone what God did for him. Those who knew him before could not help but notice his healing. He was a walking, talking testimony! Generations were impacted…A because of a girl who didn’t let hate blind her. That is powerful!

Do we love those who have hurt us? Are we willing to look past those things and just love? In our

world today we could care less about helping our enemies. Why on earth would we help those people?

Well it could change everything, it could impact generations. When people experience God, change will happen. So we have to be willing to lay down our pride, bite the bullet and love. Our enemies might laugh in your face, totally ignore you or even kill you. With love, nothing is wasted.

We are to love because God first loved us. We love people because God loves them. How dare we not love those who are precious to God?

Whatsoever Think

Have you ever loved your enemy? What happened? How did you feel? Comment below!

P.S Happy International Woman's Day!

Put Off The Robe & Grab Those Nikes

Ah the weekend! I’m drinking coffee with the windows open, eating my sisters’ wonderful homemade granola and I’m wearing my red snowflake robe. It’s a good morning! Once my coffee is gone I realize the rest of the day waits…or not.

Here is a little tidbit about myself: If I am in my robe I could win an award for most lazy (ok maybe not an award for 1st but maybe a close 3^rd?). I mean I will get like nothing done, then at the end of the day I’m like “Wow a whole day and I’ve done nothing.”

While nothing days are great and well needed everyday cannot be. So knowing myself, if I want to get anything done I have to go put on my Nikes. It’s a proven fact; there will be more productivity if I simply get out of my robe!

So as Christians sometimes we are be in our “robes” too long. We get comfortable and lazy (note I’m not talking about resting in the Lord, our work in the Lord should be done from rest) sit back in our armchair with our coffee and wait for the Lord to do something. When really the Lord is always doing something and has already given us a list of things to already do. It’s like we want a personal invitation from God, to get up and do something. I am preaching to the choir! I can get the mindset of waiting, but doing nothing in the process. He calls us to:

• Pray for the sick
• Cast out demons (there are demons in America FYI)
• Care for orphans and widows
• Love all people with your time, money and energy
• Encounter Him daily

And that is the short list! We don’t do these things to earn favor or love. We do them because of love. He loves us, we love him and then we love people. No matter if you are stuck at home or traveling the world you can do something for God. It doesn’t have to be in front of thousands. Love the one in front of you. Get on Facebook and look for people who aren’t feeling well and pray for them! I love praying for people over social media! When you’re at games or at the store be aware of Love! God is big inside of you…let Him be big on the outside of you too!

So metaphorically speaking…get out of your robe and put on your Nike’s and see what God will do through you!

Whatsoever Think

What are your favorite ways to love people? Comment below!

Are Passive Christians Doing a Disservice to the Homosexual Community?

Note: This is my belief. I am not pushing this on anyone. All I’m asking is for you to simply think about what I am saying. Hear me out. I am not a hater. Actually I am a lover and love speaks the truth, even when it is hard and unpopular. However if you do read this and totally disagree, then that is your right as it is mine to simply share my belief. 

Let’s say you are being chased by zombies. They are closing in fast but you aren’t afraid because you know that just ahead is a force field dome that you can take refuge in. You are close to safety when you see someone looking for a hiding place. You call out to them to join you. They agree and start running with you. Now the zombies have you both in their sites. Just a few more feet! You reach the dome and you run right through the force field into safety, your new friend bounces right off the dome though!  You try to pull them in. But it’s too late. You new friend is now infected…slowly they turn into a zombie.

Death chases each one of us down hoping to take us out. As Christians death has lost all power over us because of the blood of Jesus. So when the end of our lives comes and death is closing in we don’t have to worry. We just enter into our rest. For those who aren’t washed in the blood they will not be able to enter in. They will face death for eternity in hell. It’s pretty black and white.

So what does this have to do with homosexuals? I believe that passive Christians are doing a disservice to the homosexual community. How so? Well let’s look at scripture first.  The Bible is clear that the unrighteous (or those who do wrong) will not inherit the kingdom. 1 Cor. 6:9-11, 13, 18-20 says:

“9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 13But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.

18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

And Revelation 22:14-15 says: 

"Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs-the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murders, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie."

Like I said before, I believe that passive Christians are actually doing a disservice to the homosexual community. By saying things like “We love you, we accept you. “ “You don’t have to change because God says don’t judge” Christians are being just like the one headed for safety, inviting the lost in only to have them killed in front of the dome.

This revelation of falsely leading people to heaven only to have them die forever and ever really makes me sick. I love these people who have chosen this lifestyle. So much that I can’t deceive them by saying they don’t have to change. Then one day they don’t get to enter into the kingdom of heaven because I was afraid of telling the truth.

Now, I am not “hating” on the gay community. Take a look at those verses again.  Who else is mentioned? That list is pretty steep and covers a big group of people. But in our world if someone is a thief or has terribly abused someone then we say it’s wrong and they need Jesus.  If you are gay though? No problem! But homosexuals are in the same list as liars and thieves of those who will not enter into heaven.  Why are most Christians waving it off? Also how is it that we get to decide what is a sin and what is not? Especially since it’s right in the bible?  

Did you notice that Revelation said that they are living a lie?! They are deceived. That is the beauty, if you will, about deception. You don’t know you are deceived. You need someone to tell you the truth in love.

We are to welcome people into the family of God. And part of that is to tell them the truth in love. The life style that they are living isn’t right, they need to change the way they think (true repentance).  Once true repentance has taken place then they will be able to enter glory with you.  We have become afraid to tell people the truth, because it’s not “loving”. But how loving is it to lead people to an eternity of torture and never ending death? That isn’t love!

Some say that homosexuality was only not permitted in the Old Testament. So that means since Jesus got rid of the law then it’s ok! That is just silly. I just gave two New Testament references that say homosexuality is a sure way not to enter heaven. But the church is saying “Come one come all! Free ticket to heaven! You don’t have to change, you won’t be judged come join the party!”

There is also a belief that since Gods word is alive (it is living and powerful) he isn’t done speaking. Meaning he could evolve and change his mind. So my question is what about when the Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today and forever? Does forever only mean a few centuries? Um, no sorry. He never changes.

What about gays who say they are Christians? The very word Christian means little Christ or like Christ. It was a word to describe those who followed Jesus… it wasn’t a nice word. Why were they being called that? Because they were resembling and being LIKE Jesus. Jesus was pure and holy and the perfect image of the Father.

Another belief is that those who are gay were born that way. To me this is the silliest of beliefs. If God says that homosexuality is wrong (he did) and if God created people (he did that too) why then would a loving God make them gay only to kill them off? They would be created with no chance of having a relationship with God and spending forever with him. That would be a total opposite of the gospel. Jesus died for all, so that all could be saved. Why would Jesus disobey his father by saving those who God created gay?

Some people like to quote John 3:16 and that is their answer. Just because Jesus died for the world doesn’t mean the whole world is saved. We have to accept the gift Jesus died for and then walk out the life he has called us too.

We have all sinned. ALL. Our sin just has a different name tag. Sin is sin however you look at it. So why do we sugar coat it?

“We aren’t to judge people though! That’s in the bible too! Only God judges! It’s not our place.”

God has already judged homosexuality as wrong (along with the greedy and drunkards). So it is our place to declare the truth in love. You have a responsibility to the world. They need the truth. But we are often too scared to offend anyone or feel uncomfortable or be an outcast.

If we don’t tell them and give them a chance to repent and change they will not go to heaven.

I don’t beat people with the truth. I do tell the truth though. If I don’t then it is like my zombie story. So I say the truth, at the risk of being called a “small minded hater of the gay community who has totally missed Christianity all together”.  I was called that after sharing my belief and in the same paragraph they said we are to love all people (side note: calling me a hater and then calling me names does nothing to prove your point). We are to love people. Never are we to look down on people because of sin. In fact if we aren’t loving people then we are against God.  We are to love one another yes…but were does it say we are to promote sin?

The truth is sometimes uncomfortable, unpopular, and underrated. But it’s the truth. So I will show love, which leads to truth itself…Jesus. He is the truth and what sets us free.

Don’t be a passive Christian. Don’t be afraid to tell the truth. Jesus was never afraid to say something. So be like Christ…

Whatsoever Think